4 Rules for How to Cook Healthy Chili, The Ultimate No-Sweat Party Food

By: Hilary Meyer | Friday, August 23, 2013

There’s nothing more enticing than walking into the kitchen and taking in the heady scent of onion, garlic and chili powder from a big pot of chili bubbling on the stove. And if you’re throwing a party, serving up steaming bowls of chili with all the fixings is a fun, casual way to serve a crowd.

ADVERTISEMENT

At your next gathering, serve chili family style—right from the pot—with lots of different toppings. Go for classics, such as cheese, sour cream and hot sauce. Add plenty of fresh options, too: scallions, jalapeños, onion, radishes, avocados and cilantro.

Worried that chili isn’t good for you? Don’t be. We’ve got four tricks to keep it healthy but still hearty:

4 Rules for How to Cook Healthy Chili:

1. Start with lean meat (or none at all). 2. Slip in at least 3 cups of fresh vegetables to boost fiber. 3. Add whole-grain bulgur to replace some of the meat and slash saturated fat while keeping portion size satisfying. 4. Watch the salt by choosing lower-sodium canned foods such as no-salt added tomatoes and beans and liquids such as reduced sodium broth.

Vegetarian Chili
Packed with vegetables, beans and spices, this zesty, healthy vegetarian chili recipe is loaded with protein from textured vegetable protein, also known as TVP. We like the combination of okra, corn, tomatoes and beans, but feel free to use your favorites, such as peas, carrots or mushrooms. Print, share and save this recipe.